In the dynamic landscape of leadership and teamwork, coaching has emerged as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. As a seasoned coach, I firmly believe all of your best ideas are within you. Here are four key benefits leaders and teams can unlock through coaching.
Read More »4 Ways to Inspire Tithing at Christmas
The Christmas season is a time of joy, reflection, and giving. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, many individuals seek ways to express their faith through acts of generosity, including tithing. Whether new to tithing or looking to enhance contributions, here are four impactful ways your church can inspire generous tithing at Christmas.
Read More »Choosing Peace
I’ve been thinking about David Edwards, a Disciples of Christ minister, lately. With multiple wars and increasing violence in communities across the country, I find myself returning to the principles David employed as a conscientious objector. David passed away from cancer in March of 2019. I met David through his wife Kaye and through his writing and music.
I met David because I was invited to coauthor a discussion and action guide to be included in the publication of the book What Belongs to God. It is a theologically rich narrative that inspires readers to consider how they choose peace daily.
Read More »An Advent Prayer for Peace
Gracious and Merciful God,
As we gather in this sacred space during the season of Advent, our hearts are heavy with the weight of the world’s strife. We come before you, recognizing the cries of those affected by the scourge of war, the pain of gun violence, and the wounds caused by hate speech. In the midst of these challenges, we seek your presence and your peace.
Lord, we lift up to you the nations torn apart by conflict, where the clamor of weapons drowns out the whisper of hope. May your spirit of reconciliation descend upon leaders and nations, guiding them toward paths of justice and understanding.
Read More »An Advent Prayer
Dwell in us, Lord Jesus. Breakthrough in our lives this Advent season and reveal to us your will.
Dwell in us, Lord Jesus. Breakthrough in our churches and reveal to us the path you desire.
Dwell in us, Lord Jesus. Breakthrough in our communities and reveal to us those in need.
Dwell in us, Lord Jesus. Breakthrough in us so that we may show you to others.
Dwell in us, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Small Group Resource
The fall is a great time to launch new small groups. It can be challenging to find a resource that works for a new group. You might not want a heavy Bible study, or a topical study that could create tension and conflict. For a new group, a resource that promotes conversation, while studying scripture, would be a good way to go.
I have such a resource. My e-book For Discussion is a discussion-based small group resource great for youth groups and adult groups. Each small group discussion guide has a scripture focus, an activity, and a set of questions to spark conversation. I designed the resource to be used by anybody at any time. There is very low prep. The guides can also be used in various settings. Use them at the beginning of meetings, during a fall staff retreat, or when people gather.
Read More »4 Reasons for a Staff Retreat
In a month, the long days of summer will transition to the cool, windy days of fall. This will be an excellent time to bring the church staff together. The fall is the time of year when things start back up, or new things begin. There is a lot of transition in personal lives and church life. Bringing your staff together should not be “another thing to do,” but a time for fellowship, renewal, and growing.
Read More »What Orangutans Can Teach Us About Ministry Agility
Agility is a trait that is highly valued in many areas of life, including sports, business, and even in ministry. In a recent visit to the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk, my four-year-old witnessed the agility of an orangutan that climbed up the post and began swinging on the cords. While the agility of an orangutan may seem like an unlikely comparison to the agility needed in ministry, there are some interesting parallels to explore.
Read More »3 Reasons Your Website Matters
As technology continues to advance, more and more people are turning to the internet to find information about local businesses, organizations, and even places of worship. In today’s digital age, having a church website matters and is essential. Here are three reasons why your church website matters.
Read More »Starting Over
Many of you will notice that the website looks different than it did a few weeks ago. The website had a hosting issue and that resulted in the site being down over the past weekend. The price tag attached to correcting it was high. After much prayer and discernment, I decided to take a cheaper option and start a newer, simpler, less costly website. Some of the blog posts will be returning over the next few weeks.
Despite the annoyance and the headaches associated with what happened, I realized that starting over and going simple is okay. In fact, it reminds me that in our own spiritual walk, sometimes we need to stop making things so complicated, start over and go simple. In relationships, sometimes we need to start over and go simple. In a ministry setting, sometimes we need to start over and go simple.
Even though I’m starting over and going simple with the website, my goal reminds the same. To offer resources to local churches and leaders so they can follow God’s call to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
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